Turn up the temperature for office productivity

WASHINGTON – Some pull their sweaters tighter while others fan themselves with their notes from the morning meeting. Neither side of the argument may ever be satisfied, but new research may trump the debate over the where to set the office thermostat.

Well, you better get the desk fans ready.

Men’s Health reports an analysis of more than 16 corporate offices and 400 employee questionnaires found that employees are more productive in warmer temperatures. Cold temperatures are major killers of productivity in the afternoon hours.

Finland’s Helsinki University of Technology says the best temp for afternoon productivity is 71. But research from Cornell University says productivity stays high up to 77 degrees.

A Cornell University study previously found that temperatures below 68 degrees caused workers to make 44 percent more errors.